Start Blogging Again

Okay y'all... so we decided to start blogging again and nobody is blogging except for Jeny!!!!

I am a little behind but here are some pictures of the Washington shower and when I get the wedding photos I will put them up as well!!!!

Doug and I took turns opening presents!


Mama Pullen wrote down all of the names and the gifts given!




Everybody who helped!



Jen did the decorations...thanks Jen!


I look positively befuddled... I could not figure out what it was at first!


You would think that she was stabbing me.


Did Doug have more fun playing with the wrapping?!!!!

Medicinal Conspiracy

I experienced the most disturbing bodily function humanly possible last night!

As I was slowing down for the night and getting ready for bed I gathered my 9 pills that I am required to take. I grabbed a large glass of water and headed to the computer to look up a few wedding things before going to bed and proceeded to ingest my prescriptive poison.

After taking eight of my nine pills I saw the light at the other end of the tunnel (can you tell I don't enjoy taking pills?!). With my last pill I very successfully caused a road block by lodging it in my throat. I drank the rest of my water trying to coax the little guy to loosen his grip and fall with his brothers and sisters into the acidic pit that would inevitably become his fate. My efforts were in vain for he would not falter.

I continued playing on the computer and ignoring the little lump in my throat that was inhibiting the ability to swallow, be comfortable and think clearly. After a few minutes of this I felt a bubble of air welling up inside of me.

My burp charged up my throat as if on a mission. When it reached just the right location, the little capsule around the pill, that was so desperately holding on, simultaneously melted. The result of this catastrophic coincidence was a very large burst of powder spraying into my mouth.

I immediately gagged, threw up in my mouth, swallowed by reflex and then ran to the kitchen to get some more water.

Moral of the story... do not take any form of pills ever for they are conspiring to ruin all forms of enjoyment and relaxation!

Who sprung the leak?

I am thinking that I might be slightly emotional right now!!!

Let me give you a slight background on my emotional habits... I don't have any. At least not in the crying area.

Tonight I watched a movie with my girls called Bridge to Terabithia. I not only shed a few tears on the sad part... I bawled like a baby for 20 minutes!!! I am talking serious crying with all of the symptoms from snotty nose to the dull headache. My crying episode did not stop until the movie was over and the credits had rolled.

This whole evening just took me off guard! No need to fear though... I have my emotions back under control (I think)!!!

Back out of Whack

This morning I went back the chiropractor as a follow up for my rib (I have already been back to get my rib set). My appointment was for 10:30 but Mom came and woke me up at 7:15 and asked me to ride along for her appointment. The guy asked if I just wanted to go ahead and get adjusted so I didn't have to come all the way back which was totally nice of him!

He rubbed his hands down my back and then poked me in my sacrum as he said

"That hurts!"
"Ouch!"
"I called it" he replied with a slight hint of glee. I guess when you are a chiropractor, and all you do every day is crack backs, you have to entertain yourself somehow. He is really good though. He can feel your muscles and then tell you where you hurt before you get around to it.

When he checked my rib he found that it was still out of place in the front. He made me feel my rib so that I could see how much it was sticking out compared to my other ribs. Apparently you can dislocate a rib and then put it back in the front or back but the opposite might not go back into place depending on how tight your muscles are. When it is out in the front it will shift your sternum over and then mess up your whole back.

He popped my rib back in place in the front and I was on my way!!!

Boring Blog

My engagement ring!

Noelle has very kindly informed me that my blog is very boring because I never post any pictures and that is why people do not read what I have to say. Here you go Noelle... this post is specifically for you!!!!


Not much of a start but it will have to do!!!

Workout Troubles

The other night I was on the way home from school and headed to the gym when I remembered how much I despise the ugly little brats that swarm my lap lanes. They jump in the pool with their masks, snorkels and snotty little noses. Don't these children have parents?!!!

Anyway, I decided to maneuver my way through 45 minutes of traffic/construction to go to the other gym where I have never previously run across a plethora of 12-16 year old brats. By the time that I got there I was only slightly annoyed by the delay from my workout but grabbed my things with a positive attitude and went inside. When I got to the poolroom I said a quick prayer before I walked through the door. Lo and behold… no children!!! Actually the whole room was empty. With a smile and a prayer of gratitude I headed to the locker room to change into my suit.

After I getting ready with a light song and a little victory jig I headed back out to the poolroom. Ahh… the sweet sound of silence. No teenagers taking advantage of the opportunity to scantily clad their little size two bodies, no snotty little boys with their masks and snorkels and no old dirty men who hit on you!!!

I walked, no trotted, over to the bench and hung my towel on the rack, deposited my flip-flops under the bench and grabbed my goggles. I dipped my big toe, quite daintily if I do say so myself, to test the temperature of the water when I saw a little white flutter in the corner of my eye.

I walked over within 2 feet of the piece of paper, the distance needed to read the tiny print, to see what it said.

This piece of equipment temporarily out of order!

I literally sat down on the bench to regain my composure. When I had resigned myself to handling the situation like an adult, I gathered my things and went back to the locker room to change back into my day clothes… yes day clothes because I, thinking that I was going to go swimming, had not packed any running shoes.

I decided to go to the front desk and complain to the manager. The Barbie/Kip at the front desk was all smiles when I walked up. I don’t think that she has worked out a day in her life… she only got a job because she was skinny, cute and chipper.

"How can I help you?” she asked in a sing-songy chipper voice.

"Well, I was just thinking that maybe next time the entire pool is out of order that it might be pertinent to put a sign on the door so that people are at least warned not to change into their suits!” I said with great effort to be cordial and with slightly gritted teeth.

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think of that” she answered with a giggle. A GIGGLE!!! I mean really! Who giggles when they say something like that?

"Haha… thanks!” I said suppressing as much sarcasm as I could muster.

I left to the chipper Kip farewell of “I am so sorry…. Have a nice night!”

Well that a few days ago and now I am suffering from my determination to go to the gym so much. I swam last night and then I lifted weights this morning.

Well, apparently I have been working my abs too much and they are a little tight. This morning when I was finishing up with weights and about to head to the treadmill when a shooting pain took over my entire body. When we got to the chiropractor she asked me when it hurt the most.

Oh only when I breathe, was my answer. She laughed and the said that I had probably shifted a rib out of place. Yep… I sure did. The chiropractor could not put it back in place because of the swelling and how tight all of the muscles became. She said that my previous back disfigurement was making it much worse.

So now I am in lot of pain and she told me that I can not workout for a week. Swimming? I asked with the sweetest smile I could muster. She said we’ll see!

Dante's Lifeless Little Body

I have somehow ended up with a class schedule that allows a little extra time at school during the afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When I say "a little time" what I mean is 4.5 hours of complete destitution, monotony and boredom.

So I ask you, should I drive the hour home after my class in the afternoon, stay there for 2 hours and then drive the hour back for my evening class? I thought this was a preposterous idea a few weeks ago when I made the decision to stay at school for the afternoons... what was I thinking?!!!

I am so bored I would seriously consider plucking my eyebrows entertaining right now (and if you know me at all...)!

There is a little gnat (no pun intended) flying around my face and it is driving my nuts. See what I mean, this is the extent of my afternoon at UNT. The most exciting think that happens is a bug flying in my face... scratch that... the squishing of the little guy against my shirt just now.

I think that I will name the little guy Dante. Maybe I will take his lifeless, slightly flattened, little body and deposit him outside so that he may rest in peace. I could even bury him in the small patch of landscaping just outside the door... near the roots of a bush where his grave will always be shielded from the hot Texas sun by the little fragments of brownish specimens that we out here in Texas like to call leaves!

Are you starting to get the picture?

Feminists

I am in a class called Sex Roles. It is an upper level sociology class so one would expect mature adults to be taking the course... WRONG!!! The class is supposed to give you an understanding of the differences between men/masculinity and women/femininity.

The first day of class was awful. Now, I am the girl who was so disgusted with the "discussions" in my psychology class that I literally only went on test days. The difference here is that there is an attendance grade.

So the first thing that we did in this class was to compile a list of male and female traits on the board. It took us 45 minutes (a complete waste of time) to list all of the stereotypes that everyone already knows about men and women. People called out things to be written on the board that I would be embarrassed to think!!! Anyway, the guys in class repeatedly said, and agreed with each other, that sex is the ultimate goal and that is all guys really care about.

I tried to defend the men that I know by saying that all men are not like that. They promptly informed me that my guys are probably gay and just haven't "come out" yet. I was so disgusted with the laughing, jeering, immature and pathetic children that I am in class with that I almost considered dropping the course. Although this solution seems all well and good, if that were the case, I would not graduate in December and that is truly not acceptable.

So I went to class the next day praying for a lecture that was long and boring so that I could continue ignoring the class, reading a book and writing letters as I usually do in most of my classes. I was disappointed to realize that the class is very chatty.

Wednesday started the whole feminist theme. Women were unhappy because men insinuate that they are weaker by opening the door and buying them drinks. All the guys were defending themselves and asking "can't and guy just do something nice for a girl?" I promptly raised my hand and said that if women keep complaining every time that a guy does something nice that they will stop doing nice things for fear of our wrath and then we will hate all men stating that they are rude and never do anything nice for us.

I have a point to all this I promise. I began really thinking about the topics of discussion.

My thoughts are as follows:
I am very supportive of men/masculinity and the roles that God has placed them in OVER women. I believe in equality but I also believe that society is meant to function a specific way and that way is for women to be in submission to men. I can elaborate through email if you are concerned that I am putting down women. I am also totally against feminism BUT...

In line with the conversations over the two days of discussion...

a. All men ultimately want sex

b. Men are only trying to do something "nice" for girls

These two points contradict each other. Now I am certainly not ready to swing to a feminists point of view but I have realized that women who are living and participating in the secular world, have every right to feel the way that they do. The 75 guys in my class confirmed that fact. Men living in the secular world do not respect and love women the way that the Bible portrays thus the women in the secular world don't view submission as a joy.

I choose to surround myself with Christian men who are not "after one thing" so I am still able to appreciate men for who they are and what they stand for.

Ultimately, in my opinion, equality and true respect can only be found amongst Christians and the secular world can not be held accountable for these standards.

Higher Education or a Degree???

Okay, so I know it sounds a little strange but my new favorite thing to watch is Hannah Montana. One of the girls at my group home LOVES Hannah Montana and watches it ALL the time. I think that I have officially seen every episode.

I am done with three of my summer classes, all A's so far so keep your fingers crossed, and now I only have to finish up three more!!! I am trying to graduate Cum Laude... which is a 3.8 to 3.99 GPA. As long as college classes stay ridiculously easy I think that I will be fine.

It is very interesting that, in society, a bachelors degree is still something that sets people apart. Although this is true now, soon there will be so many that it won't have any more status than a high school diploma. I this in one of my sociology classes. As supply (diplomas) goes up... demand will go down and one will need a masters to be "special."

This being the case, I ask you... why is it so easy to get a diploma? I have come to the conclusion that college is a joke... one that lasts for a very long time.I go to class sometimes, don't buy my books and I don't study and yet I still make A's. The first thing that comes to mind is "obviously she is at a REALLY easy school." I have attended 6 schools and I am currently at the University of North Texas along with 32,000 other students. Not really a school that you would single out as easy.

There has been a trend of simplicity throughout my college career. I am not saying that I have not run across the occasional headache of a class/teacher but, all in all....

Is this something that we are encouraging kids to achieve in life? Nothing? Go to college and get a degree!!!! Is that all that college is... a degree?

Life is CRAZY!!!!

As I am sure you have noticed, my last pledge to be a better blogger, in fact, failed miserably. I am sorry for my unintended dishonesty.

I am now engaged and getting married on September 23rd, 2007. Things are moving along quite nicely with my wedding plans. I am almost finished with everything. I am excited about sitting back and not worrying about a thing... oh wait, I am talking about MY life... I still have six classes this summer and I work full-time.

Doug and I will be living out here in Texas until I graduate in December with my degree. We will then be moving to Athens, Georgia where he will be attending school and I will be on vacation... (hahaha)!!!

I am actually trying to find a job as a case manager for disabilities and have at least found a few openings.

Well, that is the quick update!!!